where to stay in corfu - best area to stay?

Where is the best area to stay in Corfu?

By Carles Barcelo. Updated October 27, 2023

Situated north-west of mainland Greece, Corfu is one of the beautiful Ionian Islands. Corfu has long been a favourite for holidaymakers, with a variety of resorts and activities to cater for all ages and every budget. Corfu is the second largest of the Ionian islands, after Neocolonial, and is certainly the most popular. Corfu enjoys long hot summers and plenty of rain in the winter months. The island has lush green landscapes all year round-unlike some of the other Greek Islands.

Where to stay in Corfu, depends on your interests, as you are guaranteed a warm welcome everywhere. The northern part of the island, has dramatic coastline and lofty mountains including the highest, Mt Pantokrator (900 m). Resorts there include Gouvia, San Stefanos, pretty Paleokastritsa and popular Kassiopi, In this part of the island, there are a couple of golf courses too. Further south, the land really flattens and there are more sandy beaches.

The south-western resort of Agios Georgios, Agios Gordios and Glyfada offer beach relaxation and water sports by day and nights filled with live music and Greek dancing. For those seeking a vibrant nightlife, Sidari and Kavos are perfect. There are so many lovely beaches to enjoy in Corfu including Acharavi and Roda that have good facilities and hidden gems like Myrtiotissa, that are totally secluded. The best places to stay in Corfu are the ones that suit you best and range from lively resorts with great nightlife, to peaceful Durrell-style hideaways.If you are interested in where to stay in Corfu, you may also be interested in where to stay in Cephalonia, where to stay in Zakynthos, where to stay in Rhodes and where to stay in Crete.

Best places to stay in Corfu

Corfu Town

Best Area to Stay in Corfu for a Weekend

Corfu Town is a charming metropolis that charms visitors with its Venetian inspired buildings and wonderfully contrasting colours within its landscape. Lovers of art and culture enjoy staying in Corfu town year upon year, with dozens of galleries and pop up art shops dotted all around the town. The town looks very regal with its Venetian mansions and grand hotels but it never appears pretentious as the locals are as welcoming as ever. This cosmopolitan town attracts couples looking for a spot of luxury, with no over-crowded beaches and high class restaurants to dine in of an evening.

The famous fortress, Palaio Frourio, is wonderful to explore making Corfu a place where history meets modernity and holiday fun meets new learning experiences. The town has expanded rapidly over the last 40 years or so, due to tourist demand, but it still has an air of authenticity and traditionalists are not put off staying here.

Hotels in Corfu Town

Gouvia

Best Area to Stay in Corfu with Family

Gouvia is a relatively unspoilt town on the island, where people can stay if they want a true taste of life in Corfu. Locals and tourists alike enjoy quiet days at the beach and intimate dinners of an evening in one of the family run restaurants that light up the town at night. Situated in the north of the island, Gouvia is reasonably underdeveloped in tourist terms, meaning you can escape from the crowds and soak up the atmosphere with those that live in the town. Walkers will enjoy strolling around the town and visiting the beautiful white washed churches that are so distinctive throughout Greece.

San Stefanos is also a smaller, quieter town for those wanting to get away from it all and enjoy the Greek way of life in its simplest form. Couples looking for a romantic place to stay will enjoy either of these two towns, enjoying privacy wherever they go.

Hotels in Gouvia

Kavos

Best Area to Stay in Corfu for Nightlife

Kavos is a renowned party town and attracts thousands of youngsters looking for a hedonistic holiday experience. If you want all night parties and lots of fun on the beach then Kavos is the place to stay. Beaches are often packed and most bars and restaurants cater for the UK crowds, although you will find traditional tavernas in the few quiet parts of Kavos. As well as drinking, days are action packed with everything from paragliding to bungee jumps on the beach to choose from to help you shake off a hangover.

Those wanting a relaxing holiday are best to avoid Kavos and head to a town that does not attract quite as many youngsters. If you are young, up for a laugh and do not mind a faster pace to your holiday, this could well prove to be the perfect place to stay.

Hotels in Kavos

Sidari

Best Area to Stay in Corfu for Couples

If you are wanting a party holiday that is not as ‘full on’ as Kavos, Sidari is the place to stay. Sidari sits on the north coast and is just a 30 minute drive from the airport; so you will be partying, more or less, as soon as you get off the plane. The resort is very popular with tourists, particularly from the UK, which is reflected in its array of modern bars and restaurants and English style pubs. Resort hotels are packed with entertainment shows, activities for children and big screen TV’s and there is a bar within walking distance of most hotels.

Nightclubs will keep you entertained until the wee small hours, then you can shake off your hangover with a swim at the town’s blue flag beach, before taking in the many hours of sunshine Sidari has on offer.

Hotels in Sidari

Agios Georgios

Best Area to Stay in Corfu for Beaches

There are two Agios Georgios and this one is in the south-west of the island, has one of the best beaches and is surrounded by olive groves! It is a lovely low key resort that is the best resort to stay for older couples and families to stay in Corfu. The large sandy beach is in a wide crescent shape and is gently shelving, making it ideal for young children and there are good beach facilities too. There is a good choice of hotels, restaurants and bars that are quiet spread out, so it is ideal for those who want to relax in a quieter resort.

Agios Georgios is a little isolated for easily getting out and about to explore, but having said that, Lake Korission which is rich in wildlife is close by as is Halikounas Beach if you want to try kite surfing. It is an attractive walk to the nearby village of Argirades too.

Hotels in Agios Georgios

Paleokastritsa

Best Area to Stay in Corfu for Sea Views

Nicknamed ‘the jewel in the crown of Corfu’ Paleokastritsa is strung along the coastal road and comprises of six beautiful bays. The beaches are a mixture of sand and pebble, with cool emerald water and each has a backdrop of pine trees. The perfect place to stay for families and older couples, this north-western resort is quite stretched out so you must enjoy walking. The central beach is Agios Spiridon, but it is worth walking over to Allipa Beach as it has a small harbour with boats for hire.

There is the Byzantine fortress of Angelokastro to climb up to with rewarding views from its hilltop and the villages of Lakones and Liapades to walk to. There is a good choice of pubs and tavernas for lively fun-filled evenings and these are situated on the waterfront, along the road and nestling in the hills. There are some great accommodation choices and these include small apartment complexes and the stylish Akrotiri Beach Hotel and the more traditional Zefiros is a delightful, family-run hotel.

Hotels in Paleokastritsa

Kassiopi

Best Area to Stay in Corfu for a Relaxing Seaside Getaway

This popular and picturesque resort on the north-east of the island is overlooked by its Byzantine Castle and has not lost the character and charm that it once had as a fishing village. Kassiopi has a beautiful backdrop of olive groves, vineyards and citrus plantations and views across to the Albanian coast. Life in this nice town remains focused around its harbour with its pretty square and its attractive waterfront that is lined by bars and traditional tavernas and a couple of night clubs. A leisurely meal is fun and there is plenty of fresh fish to enjoy, caught by the local fishermen.

The four different beaches are easily reached on foot and are mostly pebble so the water is crystal clear which is great for swimming and snorkelling. There is wind surfing and paragliding to enjoy and the dive centre offers tuition to all ages. If you prefer mountain biking or horse riding these are also available as well as some good golf. There are top notch hotels like the Melina Bay which is a boutique hotel and the stylish Bella Mare as well as attractive studio apartments overlooking the harbour. It is fun to take a boat trip to Corfu town and there is the chance to stop at several sandy beaches along the way.

Hotels in Kassiopi